Trunk-fastener



(No Model.)

J. B. THIEMAN.

TRUNK FASTBNER.

Patented Feb. 26, V1895.

Unire Srnrns AfrnNr rrron.

JOHN B. THIEMAN, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

TRUNK-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 534,980, dated February 26, 1 S95.

Application filed March 2 3, 1 8 94.

To @ZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN B. THIEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, inthe county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Fastener for Trunks and the Like, of which the following is a specification. A

My invention relates to a fastener or catch for trunks and other receptacles, and has for its obgect to provide a simple, inexpensive, strong and durable device projecting but slightly from the surface of the side of the trunk, whether in its open or locked position.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawingsz-Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the fastener or catch applied in the operative position to a trunk. Fig. 2 isa detail view in perspective of the fastener or catch, with the partsseparated and the pivotal member of the haspplate raised or opened. Fig. 3 is a vertical c entral section. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on theline 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detall view in perspective of the pivotal leaf detached. Fig. 6 is a rear view of the baspplate. Fig. 7 is a detail section of the line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates the hasp-plate adapted to be secured to the side of the body of the trunk, and 2 the tongue-plate, which issecured to the front side of the lid of the trunk in operative relation with the hasp-plate. The haspplate is provided-at its upper end with opposite twin enlargements 3, spaced apart a distance corresponding approximately with the width of the tongue 4, which depends from the tongue-plate, and below the said twin enlargements with twin oppositely disposed bosses 5, which are spaced apart a distance equal to the interval between said enlargements. The enlargements 3 are hollow, and in their under sides are provided with bearings 6, in which are mounted the inturned trunnions 7 of the pivotal leaf 8, said leaf being yoke shaped and provided at its lower edge Serial No. 504,854. (-No model.)

with a linger-hold 9. The seat 10, ,against which the rear fiat side of the tongue bears when not in engagement with the hasp-plate, is in the plane of the outer surface of such plate, and upon opposite sides of this seat are formed depressions or cavities 11 for the reception of lateral lugs l2 formed upon the rear side of the pivotal leaf, the space between` such lugs being equal to the width of the tongue, and the projection of the lugs from the plane of the rear side of the leaf being sufficient to cause them when the leaf is down to fit in the cavities or depressions 11. The pivotal` leaf is provided, furthermore, with a central lug 13 to engage acentral elongated perforation 14 in the lower end of the tongue, the portion of the tongue adjacent to such perforation being cut away or notched, as shown at 15, to receive the cross-bar 16 forming the body portion of the pivotal leaf, whereby the outer surface of the leaf is flush with the outer surfaces of the enlargements 3 and the bosses 5. The interval between the lower ends of the enlargements 3 and the upper sides of the bosses 5 corresponds with the width of the cross-loar or body portion of the pivotal leaf, and the enlargements are angular in shape being cut away, as shown at 17, at their outer lower portions to receive the parallel arms of the pivotal leaf. Thelength of the central lug of the pivotal leaf is sufficient to project into a central depression or socket 18 formed in the seat 10, and the upper side of said central lug is beveled or rounded, whereby when the parts of the fastener are brought together by lowering the lid of the trunk the tapered-lower end of the tongue slides under such beveled or rounded side of the lug and elevates the lower or free end of the pivotal leaf sufficiently to allow the tongue to pass thereunder. This action occurs when the lid of the trunk is lowered while the pivotal leaf is in its closed or lowered position and provides for the automatic assemblage of the parts or members of the fastener. The notch, or cut away portion, in the front side of the tongue, terminates at its lower end in an abrupt shoulderl), which when the parts of the fastener are assembled is aligned transversely with the upper sides of the bosses 5 and which bears against the abrupt or square lower edge of the pivotal leaf to pre- IOO vent the accidental disengagement of the parts.

A spring 20 of the leaf or plate type is arranged in one of the cavities or depressions arranged upon opposite sides of the seat for the tongue and projects under a rounded or cam-head 21 which is formed on the end of one of the arms of the pivotal leaf, whereby the latter is held in either its opened or closed position.

From the above description it will he seen that the various parts of the fastener, including the tongue which is integral with the tongue-plate, and the junction of which with such plate is rounded, as shown clearly at 22, the angular enlargements in which the trunnions of the pivotal leaf are mounted, the subjacent bosses between which and said en largements the cross-bar or body portion of the pivotal leaf fits, and the pivotal leaf are iiush at their outer sides so as to provide no projecting part which is liable to be injured during the unavoidable rough handling of the trunk to which the device is applied. Furthermore, the various bracing and supporting enlargements and bosses, as well as the lugs carried by the pivotal leaf and engaging depressions or cavities in the hasp-plate prevent independent lateral movement of the members of the fastener and prevent injury thereto by lateral strains.

It will be understood, furthermore, that various changes in the form, proportion, and the ininor details of construction may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a trunk fastener or catch of the class described, the combination of a hasp-plate lower edge a cross-bar to engage the notch in the tongue, and opposite lugs spaced apart to bear against opposite sides of the tongue, equal in length to the openings between the contiguous ends of the enlargements and bosses, and adapted to fit in and engage the depressions or cavities at the bottoms of the 6o said openings, substantially as specified.

2. In a trunk fastener or catch of the class described, the combination with a tongueplate having a tongue provided with a transverse notch l5 and a central perforation 14, 65 of a hasp-plate provided with a seatv for the reception of said tongue, and a pivotal leaf having a transverse portion adapted to engage the notch of the tongue and provided with lateral spaced lugs to pass upon opposite sides 7o of the tongue and engage depressions or cavities in the hasp-plate and provided, furthermore, with a central lug 13 to engage the perforation in the tongue, substantially as specified.

3. The herein described trunk fastener or catch, comprising a tongue-plate provided with a tongue having a flat rear side, a tapered lower end, a transverse notch terminating at its lower end in an abrupt shoulder and 8o a central perforation, a hasp-plate provided with a central seat, twin angular enlargements arranged upon opposite sides of the seat at its upper end, and twin spaced bosses arranged upon opposite sides of the seat at its lower end, a yoke shaped leaf having its arms provided with trunnions mounted in bearings in said angular enlargements and having a transverse body portion equal in width to the interval between the enlarge- 9o ments and the bosses and provided with a central lug to engage the perforation in the tongue, and a spring arranged in a cavity or depression in the hasp-plate in operative relation with a cam-head on one of the arms of the leaf, the outer surfaces of said tongue, enlargements, bosses and leaf being in a common plane, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in roo the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN B. THIEMAN.

Witnesses:

JOHN B. Turns, JACOB STEPHANs. 

